California EPA Releases Green Chemistry Initiative

California’s EPA recently released the state’s landmark Green Chemistry Initiative (PDF), which focuses on encouraging or mandating manufacturers to develop chemicals that are less poisonous and degrade more quickly in the environment, Mercury News reports.

The initiative also focuses on providing more information to business customers and consumers on the chemicals found in manufacturers’ products and their known health and environmental effects.

The advisory report ais backed by two state laws passed in September which elevate the regulator power of the toxic substances control department. Starting Jan. 1, 2011, one of the laws will give the department the authority to regulate chemicals produced outside the state. The second law will mandate an online, public database to describe the toxicity and hazards of commonly used chemicals.

In November, Bob Peoples, director of ACS Green Chemistry Institute wrote that it is imperative that “we advance the green chemistry and green engineering cause quickly and permanently.”